Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A accident near St. George, UT
On June 17, 2004, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A (airplane) was involved in an accident near St. George, UT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 17, 2004
- Place
- St. George, UT
- Aircraft
- Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.326°N, 113.623°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040712X00952
Official records · LAX04GA243
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 17, 2004, at 1746 mountain daylight time, a WSK PZL Mielec (Dromader) M-18A, N8214J, collided with terrain following a fire retardant drop near St. George, Utah. New Frontier Aviation, Inc., owned the airplane. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U. S. Department of the Interior (DOI), was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with a restricted category Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness certificate as a public-use fire suppression flight. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries; a post crash fire destroyed the airplane. The local flight departed St. George about 1730. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a BLM flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 37 degrees 19.562 minutes north latitude and 113 degrees 36.818 minutes west longitude at an estimated elevation of 5,900 feet. The BLM provided an airborne AirTac, who controlled the air assets working a fire. The AirTac instructed the tankers on where to drop. The tankers, including the accident pilot, had been making drops in a pattern similar to an inverted L with the short axis pointing to the right. AirTac instructed the accident pilot to extend the drop line (the short axis of the inverted L). The drop line heading was about 218 degrees. The pilot was to fly downwind parallel to and in the opposite direction of the drop line, which was to his left. The pilot would then turn 90 degrees to the left (base turn), and then make another 90-degree left turn onto final. Drop altitude was about 100 feet
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, resulting in a stall and loss of control.
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Browse: Utah · Wsk Pzl Mielec aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
